This chapter is about the normative sexuality. It was written by Steven Seidman who is a professor for the State University of New York of Albany. He also has written several other pieces that relate to the practices of homosexuality and heterosexuality. This chapter starts off by discussing the differences between homosexuality and heterosexuality. Seidman talks about the social division between the homosexuality and heterosexuality starting around the 1950’s.
Seidman goes on in this chapter to discuss how the homosexual has been degraded in society and how society has chosen to make them invisible or segregated them from the public, including denial of civil rights and political representation. Meaning they are not allowed to enter the political realm. He states that the homosexual is a deviant and should be removed from the heterosexual public. Seidman discusses that gays are only allowed to express themselves in places that are not around the heterosexual. He says that these strategies are not trying to get rid of the homosexual but simply help the homosexual and the heterosexual keep their distance.
The homosexual is viewed and has been viewed as a pollutant or deviant since the 1950’s, whereas the heterosexual is seen as “pure”. This has caused the “in the closet” term. The gay population has been “in the closet” trying to pass themselves off as a heterosexual to the public. However because the homosexual doesn’t wish to be in the closet any longer they have been coming out and telling everyone they are of the homosexual identity. This has created great achievement for them such as with the civil rights and gay pride.
I know a few homosexuals and when I talked to them about why they never told anyone sooner they basically described what is being said in this chapter. They were afraid people would not see them the same way that they would be judged on their identity and not by their character and who they are. I don’t think this is right, people should like you no matter what you are the same person the only thing different is what you do in your private life and no one really needs to know that anyway. What has made our society judge the homosexual anyways? They are people just like you and me, I just do not understand why we feel the need to make them feel bad about themselves and the lifestyle the have chose. Even though the gay individuals are coming out more and more there are still those few who wish to remain in the closet for fear of not being accepted by their families or peers. The homosexual has come a far way but they are still not “normative” yet.
Near the end of this chapter Seidman talks about the two political responses to the normalization of homosexuality. First the sexual identity movements have emerged, meaning that the homosexual has taken a stand for themselves claiming they are a group in which has been victimized. 2nd, there has been a rise in gay politics, trying to change the fact that they were once seen as deviant to the fact that they are normal.
Overall this chapter discusses the issues that are associated with homosexuality and how the homosexual has really achieved a lot through out the years. There are many struggles that the homosexual has had to go through and even though there are not as many struggles as there once was they still do face some. There are also many heterosexuals who see the homosexual as deviant or abnormal for our society, and there are still people who feel the need to victimize the gay community. However, the majority of the people in our society are seeing homosexuality as becoming more normative. We are all the same the only thing different is our sexual preference and before you decide that you think their lifestyle is wrong put yourself in their shoes. What if it were the other way around how would you feel if everyone thought you were wrong for the way you live your life.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
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Seidman explained the idea of normative sexuality very well. While reading this article, I felt that Seidman was talking about homosexuals in a non-biased way. It was almost like he was talking for the people of society, and what he has observed, rather than his personal thoughts on this. He only discussed the social division that occurred since at least the 1950’s. I would be interested to see how far back the social division was in existence.
Seidman’s thoughts on the exclusion of the homosexual from public life, could be compared to a vicious circle. For example, homosexuals are invisible from the public, therefore causing them to be denied civil right and political representation. Then, once a homosexual does make themselves visible, they are not protected from violence and there is simply no toleration for them, since their visibility is non-normative. This simply reinforces Seidman’s statement that, “The homosexual is deviant and should be removed from the heterosexual public.” The view of homosexuals versus heterosexual is like black and white. Homosexuality is considered unmoral to many, therefore it making heterosexuals appear better to the public eye. If homosexuals remain closeted though, how is society supposed to get used to the lifestyle, and find it more normative?
I agree with the post, that many people fear coming out due to fear of not being accepted, or categorized as a gay American, instead of what they do for society. Some homosexuals have been put into a category based on their “normative construction.” It is believed that homosexuals possess certain normative construction such as a slender frame, and for males, a higher voice. Though this may be true for some, our mental construction of the characteristic of a homosexual are not always accurate. If society is willing to be more accepting of a different lifestyle, I too believe that homosexuality will become even more normative. As Seidman discussed the issue that certain sexual acts are not considered immoral if both parties are willing, then why would homosexuality be considered immoral if the same applies?
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